Musharraf says time not ripe for him to join politics

Islamabad, Nov 1 (ANI): The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership met former President Pervez MusharrafPresident Pervez Musharraf at his residence to learn about his plans following recent reports about his intention to enter the political arena, a source said.

Musharraf told Shujaat Hussain, Pervaiz Elahi and Wajahat Hussain that he currently had no intention to enter politics because he and his family did not think it was the right time for him to do that, the source said.

Another source said the challenges facing the PML-Q were also discussed at the meeting, which according to party officials was a 'social interaction'.

They also talked about a forward bloc in the PML-Q and the possible change in the party's leadership, the source said, adding that 'perturbed' by the ongoing political and economic crises in the country, Musharraf asked the PML-Q leadership to play its role to steer the country out of the current situation.

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf is said to be keen on leading the PML-Q, the political party which he backed during last February elections. He reportedly expressed this desire in front of his personal friends in Lahore last week at a dinner.

Earlier, Musharraf told his friends that if the Chaudhrys of Gujarat, who are presently holding the reins of the party, were not ready to quit, "then someone from the ranks of the party should make them leave so that he could take over without much fuss".

Musharraf was reportedly told by his friends that after the failure of the PPP to address the economic problems, the people were recalling the "golden days" of his rule.

"Sir, this is the time to seriously think about leading the party," a source quoted a Musharraf crony as telling him.

"But this would only be possible if the Chaudhrys of Gujrat voluntarily hand over the party leadership to him," the sources quoted Musharraf's friends as saying.

According to the paper, PML-Q leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani confirmed from Lahore that Musharraf told his personal friends at a party, hosted by an oil sector tycoon, that he was prepared to head the party in case Chaudhry Shaujaat and Pervez Elahi accepted him as their new president or they were forced to quit. (ANI)